Why won't my Night blooming cereus bloom?

Answer 1

The Night Blooming Cereus aka the Dutchmans Pipe Cactus appears to bloom under distress. I have a plant that is 96 + years old - obviously passed down in the family :) and have noticed that if I sit the pot in the sun for a week until the leaves turn slightly yellow that it will bud out. It blooms from 8pm - 5am. If you go out and cut a bloom around 9pm and place the open bloom in water and put it in a dark room (so flower doesn't close) that room will smell like heaven. After the blooming is completed I pull the pot back on the porch allowing the plant to "fully green" and repeat the process. I also do not fertilize my plant instead I add jungle grow (or good potting soil) to the top of the plant 1 or 2 times a year (just a handful).

It is also very easy to take cuttings - simply cut a leaf about 1/8" from the stem and place it in soil or you can trim a stalk at "a notch". Keep it out of direct sun but water about every other day (as potting soil dry's out quickly). In about a month you will have well rooted additional plants.

I live in North Florida (plant is from South Carolina) and my plant does best facing South to South West at the edge of our covered porch. Good luck and enjoy as it is an awesome plant.

Answer 2

They only bloom once a year and the blossoms last less than a day. The plant is very particular about watering. From March to August, it needs 10-10-10 fertilizer once a month. As long as the watering is correct and the temperatures are fine, it should boom in late June or early July.